Tutu Tuesday 18138

Tutu Tuesday in Garges-lès-Gonesse, Île-de-France, France #tututuesday G'day lovelies! So I'm currently in the land of croissants and Eiffel Towers, soaking up the Parisian vibes and taking in all the beauty this city has to offer. And what better way to embrace the cultural experience than with a spot of ballet? That's right, you heard me - ballet in Paris! The ballet scene here is off the charts, and I've been trying to squeeze in as many performances as possible. There's just something so graceful and elegant about the movement, and the tutus...oh, the tutus! Today's adventure took me to Garges-lès-Gonesse, a vibrant town nestled in the Île-de-France region. This town has its own unique history with ballet, with several schools and companies nurturing local talent. It’s just as important to support community-based arts organisations like these, and there is an unspoken understanding of their role in community development in the suburbs of major French cities, unlike the sometimes jaded sentiment in Australia toward supporting community-level initiatives like these, but we’ll save that discussion for another day. I decided to kick things off with a visit to a local studio, hoping to witness the passion and energy that emanates from the heart of ballet. As I stepped into the studio, a flurry of activity enveloped me. There was such energy. I just loved the way all the dancers and their teachers were so incredibly welcoming and ready to share their love of ballet with me, with barely a flicker of hesitation or annoyance in the world that I wasn’t there to sign up or even get in a tutu, and my awkward, slightly out of place dance-touring behaviour just seemed to make no difference at all. I suppose the French just don’t do fake-friendliness very well, it’s not their thing at all! The tutu game was strong here, with an abundance of classic styles. From the iconic **romantic tutu**, the wispy beauty with its billowing layers and gossamer lightness, to the **contemporary tutu**, a daring design often sporting asymmetrical skirts or unconventional fabrics, Garges-lès-Gonesse is truly a haven for tutu lovers. I even spied a **“tutu on tap”** made entirely of denim - I swear it had to have been hand-crafted - just stunning! Let's talk about some of my fave styles - I've gotta give a shoutout to the **bodice tutu** which is the one that wraps around the body like a dress with no waist band, leaving it smooth and unbroken right from the top. There is something so classically beautiful about that and I had a fantastic time with it at the performance in Garges-lès-Gonesse. A super iconic piece - for those of you who know ballet, you know how vital a good bodice can be - there's a really powerful aesthetic with those. As an Australian dancer, I can't help but compare the style of the dancers here in Paris with that of the dancers back in Australia. There are similarities, of course. Ballet, as a dance form, transcends cultural boundaries. We have similar goals of conveying stories through graceful movements. There's this intrinsic connection that just speaks through our moves. However, what's fascinating is that in Garges-lès-Gonesse, the energy felt so uniquely French. The dancers had an almost intangible artistic flair, as if each movement was part of a grand ballet performed in some unseen theatre. And their commitment to technique and elegance was undeniable - they could leap from one arabesque to another without a single falter in their execution! I could just sit there for hours watching - honestly. Even I'm feeling pretty inspired. Overall, my tutu-tastic experience in Garges-lès-Gonesse was just what I needed. If you’re ever looking to expand your tutu appreciation, definitely get over here and have a gander! It was a real whirlwind of energy, grace, and artistry that made me fall deeper into the world of ballet than ever before. This truly is a town where beauty comes to life on the stage and in every step that is taken on a dancer’s journey! So if you're in Garges-lès-Gonesse, Île-de-France, make sure to stop by a local studio or performance. And don't forget to #tututuesday and let me know all about your tutu experiences!